Most of Monday’s front pages are giving Sir Keir Starmer’s strategic defence review top prominence, with spotlighting details set to be unveiled later today. Others throw cold water on the viability of the still to be announced plans, which will outline the government’s priorities for military and security spending in the coming years. “Britain sends warning to Putin with 12 new attack submarines”, splashes the front page of the i Paper, which reports that the expanded fleet will support “30,000 jobs”.
“Starmer’s defence strategy in disarray” declares the front page of the Telegraph. It reports that Defence Secretary John Healey seemed to walk back his statement that there was “no doubt” the UK boost defence spending to 3% GDP by 2034. The Telegraph reports that when the Labour minister was pressed on repeating this claim, Healey instead said it was instead an “ambition” to reach that target.
“Don’t leave us defenceless” quips the Daily Mail on its front, as it too focuses on John Healey remarks about reaching 3% of national income spending by 2034. Elsewhere, the paper teases lines from the forthcoming memoir of Sarah Vine (a Daily Mail columnist and former wife of Conservative MP Michael Gove). “Why Brexit marked the beginning of the end of my marriage” reads the main headline, as the Mail describes the new book as “soul-baring”.
Defence Secretary John Healey is making headlines over on the front page of the Metro as well, but for a separate story. “We’ve lost control”, the Labour minister told Sky News on Sunday, in reference to the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in the past five years during both Labour and Conservative governments. His remarks come a day after the highest number of migrants – 1,194 – crossed the Channel in a single day this year (the previous record was 825 on a day in May).
“Boats arriving ‘like taxis'” makes the main story over on the front page of the Daily Express. The paper similarly quotes the defence secretary, who said “small boat smugglers are running a ‘taxi’ service across the Channel”. “Spotted!” elsewhere on the front page is a smiling trio of Spice Girls – Mel B, Melanie C and Emma Bunton – all joined at the hip to celebrate Scary Spice’s 50th birthday.
It was a “stunning ride” for Britain’s Simon Yates on Sunday when the 32-year-old Bury-born rider sealed his first Giro d’Italia title by crossing the finish line in Rome reports the Guardian. Putting the pedal to the metal is a theme across the paper’s front page, as it reports that “Exercise ‘better than drugs’ to stop cancer returning”. It comes from the results of a new trial, the paper reports, which says adopting a healthier lifestyle could stop tumours from coming back and even be “more effective than drugs”.
“How to keep up with the Camerons”, splashes a headline on the Times front page, which is also teeing up Sarah Vine’s forthcoming Westminster memoir. Dramatic images of a Ukrainian drone strike on Russian airbases blazes across the centre of the page – the “swarm” reportedly attacked “nuclear-capable bombers” deep inside Russia, hitting targets as far away as Siberia.
“UK’s lost control of borders” teases the top of the Sun, which also zeroes-in on the defence secretary’s comments over the weekend about the record-number of migrants that crossed the Channel on Saturday. Elsewhere, Miley Cyrus spills her feelings about her dad Billy Ray Cyrus’s love interest – actress Elizbeth Hurley.
“Miley loves Liz” beams the Daily Star, which similarly reports on the American pop star’s relationship with her father’s girlfriend. A “Sunny Easter saves pubs” the paper reports below the fold , and with June set for a “Spanish scorcher” of 31C, it could happen again – “we’ll drink to that” the Star chimes.
“One heart, two heroes” is how the Daily Mirror sets up its exclusive interview with a 17-year-old Max Johnson, who had the organ donor opt-out law named after him. The Max and Keira Law, marking its fifth anniversary, has saved “thousands of lives” as it made it possible for everyone over the age of 18 to be presumed to be potential donors when they die. Adults now have to opt out if they don’t want to donate their organs.
“Bessent vows US will never default as market data lays bare investor anxiety” splashes the front of the Financial Times. The paper uses the lion’s share of its Monday paper to report on the US treasury secretary’s comments from the weekend, which come in response to “investors’ jitters” over the size of the US federal debt – the paper reports that those concerns have “mounted” since Donald Trump urged Congress to push through his “big beautiful” budget bill.
Many of the papers focus on the government’s strategic defence review. The Telegraph claims it’s in “disarray” because it says the defence secretary has “backtracked” on a pledge to boost military spending to 3% of GDP by 2034.
The Daily Mail says Labour has been accused of an “embarrassing U-turn” – and urges the government to not “leave us defenceless”. The Times is also concerned. Its leader column accuses ministers of “strategic delusion” – warning that “for 30 years, Britain has failed to match funding with geopolitical ambition”.
The Guardian notes that Labour’s push towards increased militarisation “may not be enthusiastically greeted by many of the party’s supporters” – but says the government is hoping to win support by arguing the investment will create skilled jobs, particularly outside London.
The front pages of the Times and the Telegraph include details of Ukraine’s daring drone attack on Russian bombers yesterday. Both papers feature similar images of an aircraft being hit. The Guardian calls it a “spectacular attack” – while the Financial Times says the “audacious” strike took more than a year to plan.
The Express splashes on the record number of migrants who crossed the English Channel on Saturday – prompting the Conservatives to brand it a “day of shame”. It claims that the defence secretary has admitted that boats were arriving like taxis. The Home Office says it has a serious plan to take down people smuggling networks at every stage.
A study – suggesting that exercise is better than drugs to keep cancer at bay – is highlighted by the Guardian and the Times. They report that a structured exercise routine given to advanced cancer patients after treatment was found to reduce the risk of dying from the disease. The results of the trial have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The Mirror’s front page celebrates the fifth anniversary of the organ donor opt out law in England. It features 17-year-old Max Johnson – whose life was saved when he received a heart from a nine-year-old car crash victim, Kiera Ball, when he was the same age. One Heart, Two Heroes, says the headline.
